The New York Knicks are laying the absolute smackdown on the Orlando Magic in the final night of NBA Cup group play on Tuesday, and no one is having a better time than Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns put up another 20-10 game to power the Knicks’ offense,

Karl-Anthony Towns had a fun little game of KAT and mouse going back and forth with the Wagner brothers during Tuesday’s blowout win against the Magic. Towns feistily jawed with the big-man duo of Franz and Mo Wagner throughout the first half of the Knicks’ 121-106 NBA Cup-advancing victory at the Garden.

Dec 3, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) controls the ball against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The highlight clip of Towns playing through Magic center Mo Wagner's physical defense embodied the Magic's hard-nosed, blue-collar effort for the 2024-25 season. They came into Tuesday's contest at 14-7, which ranks them third in the Eastern Conference.

The biggest change with the New York Knicks this season compared to last has been the presence of Karl-Anthony Towns. And according to HoopsHype contributor Mike Shearer, he is also the biggest reason for hope for the Knicks.